Identification number: OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0039
Type: National Research Program - BioPhoT project
Duration: 01.03.2026. - 31.10.2026.
Project manager: Dr.phys. Virgīnija Vītola, Institute of Solid State Physcis, University of Latvia (ISSP UL)
ISSP UL funding: 189 571 EUR
Project description:
DARS (Direct-write Afterglow on Standard Road Signs) provides passive, wireless visibility for road signs and guardrails. Problem: At night, approximately 30% of road fatalities in the EU involve single-vehicle run-off-road accidents, especially on road curves where vertical signs fall outside the headlight reflection cone. Solution: Thin, dense, and durable SrAl₂O₄:Eu,Dy stripes are directly deposited onto the substrate using a programmable laser. These stripes glow for several hours after excitation by vehicle headlights or daylight. The process enables low-cost, energy-efficient upgrading of existing signage.
Impact: Reduced nighttime accidents, more equitable safety on rural roads, resilience during power outages, and lower maintenance costs. For the Latvian economy: Exportable IP and services for local sign manufacturers, along with the creation of high value-added jobs.